The Rupee opened weak with traders awaiting the Reserve Bank of India’s policy decision and the U.S. jobs report due later in the day. The RBI outcome is expected to provide cues on the domestic rate outlook, while the latter could shape expectations for U.S. interest rates. While the rupee found slight relief on Thursday, the "overall direction of travel" remains on the downside, a currency trader at a Mumbai-based bank said. The RBI is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking its third straight reduction amid a backdrop of benign inflation. India's largest lender by assets, State Bank of India, is more dovish and is calling for a 50 bps rate cut. Inflation forecast revision and comments by the RBI head will be watched for cues on what comes next for interest rates. Meanwhile, the U.S. non-farm payrolls report, due later in the day, will attract attention amid signs that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are weighing on the economy. Investors are currently pricing in two rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. A weaker-than-expected jobs report could increase expectations for further cuts, putting additional pressure on the already struggling dollar. The dollar was headed for a weekly loss on Friday, undermined by signs of fragility in the U.S. economy and as trade negotiations between Washington and its trading partners made little progress despite a looming deadline. The euro also got a further lift from the European Central Bank's (ECB) hawkish rhetoric following a widely expected rate cut, which sent the common currency to a 1-1/2-month high of $1.1495 on Thursday. It last traded 0.05% higher at $1.1449. Most currency pairs were also little changed in the early Asian session on Friday, with sterling up just 0.1% to $1.3583 having scaled a more than three-year top in the previous session. It was set to rise 0.9% for the week. The yen fell 0.1% to 143.74 per dollar. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was little changed at 98.72 after having hit a six-week low on Thursday, and was headed for a weekly loss of 0.7%. All eyes are now on Friday's jobs data to determine the next move in currencies. Adding to headwinds for the dollar, investors remain worried about U.S. trade negotiations and the lack of progress in hashing out deals ahead of an early July deadline. The highly anticipated call between Trump and Xi also provided little clarity and the spotlight on it was quickly stolen by a public fallout between Trump and Elon Musk. Elsewhere, the Australian dollar ticked up 0.06% to $0.6512, and was set for a 1.1% weekly rise. The New Zealand dollar rose 0.17% to $0.6048 and was also headed for a 1.1% weekly gain. Oil prices slipped on Friday but were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping resumed trade talks, raising hopes for growth and stronger demand in the world's two largest economies. Brent crude futures fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.22 a barrel as of 0133 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gave up 15 cents, also 0.2%, to $63.22, after gaining around 50 cents on Thursday.......
The US dollar weakened sharply against other major currencies after data showed that the US economy suffered a record contraction in Apr-Jun, while jobless claims rose in the week ended Saturday also rose.The US unit also extended its decline globally on Thursday after Trump raised the possibility of delaying presidential election in the US, scheduled for November.European Stocks ended lower on Thursday due to mounting concern over sluggish economic recovery and a possible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Germany reported its worst decline in GDP since 1970, with the Eurozone’s largest economy shrinking 10.1% quarter-on-quarter in Apr-Jun.Corporate earnings were high on investors' agenda on Thursday.In the US, Most share indices ended lower on Wednesday following bleak economic data.Lack of progress in talks between Congressional Democrats, Republicans and the White House on a new coronavirus aid package also weighed on sentiment.Gold futures settled lower on Thursday after nine consecutive days of gains, with the bullion retreating from a record rally as traders booked some profit.......